Caravan industry welcomes increased capacity on Spirit of Tasmania for holidaymakers

Tasmania’s peak tourism industry organisation has described the new Spirit of Tasmania ships as the greatest game changer for Tasmanian tourism since the opening of MONA. 

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO, Luke Martin, expected the extraordinary additional passenger and vehicle capacity of the new ships will turbo-charge regional visitation.

“The introduction of the twin Spirit of Tasmania ships in 2002 awoke Tasmania as a serious visitor destination by once and for all lifting the constraint on sea access to the State,” he said.

“Australians have always loved holidaying with their own car, caravan or campervan, and Tasmania remains one of the country’s best touring destinations.  We know visitors to Tasmania who arrive by sea stay longer, spend more and disperse further into regional areas of the State than those who arrive by air.”

For the last 15-years the Spirit of Tasmania ships have been the lifeblood of regional tourism, and today’s announcement is as significant for the industry as the original decision to acquire the twin ships back in 2002.”

Mr Martin said the additional passenger capacity would enable the Spirit of Tasmania to meet future visitor demand.

With daytime crossings, the current ships are near capacity over peak travel times.  The additional passenger and vehicle capacity is about setting Tasmania up for the next 15-years and beyond, and ensuring as many visitors to the State as possible are arriving by sea and spending the maximum amount of time touring the State.